printed symbol
- noun
- /ˈprɪntɪd ˈsɪmbəl/
- Many languages use different printed symbols to convey similar meanings in writing.
Examples
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Lacking an effective sensory orientation to physical reality, children with learning disabilities, it was thought, struggled with the usual early schooling challenges involving printed symbols such as letters and numbers.
Academic text (2011) -
The child carefully traced the printed symbol of the letter 'A' in her workbook.
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In contrast, the printed symbol remains present for review.
Academic text (1993) -
During the decoding stage, the student learns the rudiments of how to convert the printed symbols on the page into their appropriate sound equivalences.
Academic text (2005) -
He struggled to recognize the printed symbol for the number eight on the test.
Synonyms
The letters or characters used in printing, like those on a page
A written sign such as a letter or number
A mark, like a letter, that stands for something
A sign or symbol that shows who something belongs to
A carved or written sign that stands for something in writing
A symbol or word that stands for something else
A written mark, like a letter, that stands for a sound or idea
A written sign that stands for a sound, word, or idea
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'printed' (produced by printing) simply modifies 'symbol' (a written or printed mark), so the phrase denotes a symbol produced in print. This adjective+noun configuration is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
Printed symbol comes from the image of a printing machine or pen making a small mark on paper; printed means 'made by printing' and symbol means 'a small sign that stands for a letter or idea', so a printed symbol is a mark in print that 'represents information'.